Chhattisgarh Assembly Election: Over 70% voter turnout in 1st phase

Chhattisgarh: Maoists threat did no damage to voters in Chhattisgarh as over 70 per cent people went to poll in the first phase of the assembly elections here on Monday.

Peaceful polling was held in 18 Assembly seats of remote Maoist-violence affected areas.

'The assembly constituencies which saw polling today are spread over 8 districts in Chhattisgarh,' Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said at press conference here.'In many core naxal areas in the state, people participated with enthusiasm,' he said.

The Maoists, who had warned citizens against taking part in the poll process, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Katekalyan in Dantewada district, minutes before the voting began, narrowly missing a foot patrol of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

In a later gun battle with the rebels, two CRPF personnel were injured in Pamed in Bijapur district. Security personnel also found IEDs near a polling station in Bijapur and in Sukma district.